Manchester United ready to challenge Chelsea for £20m Lazio star Stefan de Vrij

posted onFeb. 08, 2018 at 3:13 pm

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Stefan de Vrij is attracting attention from the Premier League (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United will battle Chelsea for the signing of Lazio defender Stefan de Vrij this summer, according to reports in Italy.

The Dutchman, once a target for Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, is out of contract in Rome at the end of the season but he’s set to sign a new deal that will include a £20m release clause.

The 26-year-old is keen for a new challenge but believes he owes it to the Serie A giants to recieve a fee for leaving and will therefore pen a new deal with a low release clause, according to Italian publication Il Messagero.

Chelsea were interested in the Holland international last summer but signed Antonio Rudiger from city rivals Roma in a £32m deal instead.

Van Gaal wanted to sign De Vrij in 2014 (Picture: Getty)

However, Gary Cahill’s drop in form coupled with David Luiz’s persistent injuries have forced the Blues back into the market and they’re interested in De Vrij.

United, though, are set to challenge the Blues for the Dutchman and are willing to meet the £20m release clause in the defender’s new deal.